Nicki Cawood, Author at CURLY AND CANDID

With all of this year’s holidays being cancelled or likely to be cancelled people are looking to next year when (hopefully) we’ll be able to get out and about properly again. Talking to Roy about where we’d like to go we somehow ended up talking about random places we’d seen on TV but knew about in real life. Does anyone remember Eerie, Indiana? Looking up the real Indiana we found that it was less weird and much more interesting than expected.

There are 50 states in the U.S, each possessing their own unique history and geography. However, some states are more well known than others. Everyone seems to know about the big states like New York, Florida, and California, but many people know next to nothing about states like Indiana. These people are missing out, because these lesser-known states have some great features and some extremely interesting facts and places. So what are some of these fun tidbits of information about the Hoosier state? Here are five cool facts about Indiana.

Santa Claus

The story about the mythical entity that is loosely based on St. Nicholas is quite well known in America. Of course, we’re talking about Santa Claus. What many people don’t realize however is that there is actually a town named Santa Claus in Indiana. In 1856, the town of Sante Fe, Indiana changed its name to Santa Claus in order to distinguish themselves from another town. That small change has had big repercussions on the town, as many of the local businesses have Christmas themed names or actually are related to Christmas. In addition, thousands of Christmas letters from eager children flood the town each year as children try to get in touch with the man in red himself.

Love of Basketball

One of the most popular sports in Indiana is basketball, something that can be reflected in the high school basketball scene. People from all around the state get involved in the high school basketball scene, dubbing it “Hoosier Hysteria”. One of the most famous high school sports upsets ever occurred in Indiana high school basketball, eventually being turned into the movie “Hoosiers”. Although basketball was founded in Massachusetts, the inventor of basketball, James Naismith, stated that Indiana was the centre of the sport. High school basketball fandom is like a cult in Indiana, so if you’re looking for Indianapolis houses for sale, prepare for some rabid fans.

5 Cool Facts about Indiana: Founding History

The name Indiana is a direct reference to the indigenous people that originally inhabited the land. Indiana literally translates to “Land of the Indians”, a direct reference to its original settlers. The region was initially settled by European settlers as reparation for frequent raids in the area. Raids from Native Americans killed settlers and damaged important goods, causing settlers to seek repayment. When approached by the settlers, the Native Americans took the blame and gave the land away as reparation for their past acts. The newly acquired land was renamed to reflect this and later became a state a few years in the future.

Hoosiers

If you’ve ever heard anything about Indiana, then you’ve probably heard of the word Hoosier before. People from the area call themselves Hoosiers and the state of Indiana is known as the Hoosier state. The mascot for Indiana University is also a Hoosier as well. The strange thing is, no one really knows what a Hoosier is, even people from Indiana. The term appeared in the early 1800s around the state, but no one has been able to pinpoint an exact origin or meaning. Despite the mystery behind the word, it still has some major significance in the state.

5 Cool Facts about Indiana: Famous Indianans

You might not think that many famous people were born in a small midwestern state, but many famous musicians, actors, and politicians have called Indiana home. The entire Jackson 5, including Michael and Janet, were born in the state of Indiana. Legendary late-night host David Letterman was also born in the Hoosier state as well. When it comes to politics, this area is relatively important to the current U.S administration as Vice President Mike Pence calls the state home.

Is Indiana on our “Must See List”? I’m not sure, but it is definitely more interesting than I would have ever expected it to be.

It’s important to realise that without your staff your business would not be where it is today, as they contribute massively to your progression and success. It’s extremely hard to run a business on your own without any support, but it can be equally difficult to meet your goals with an unmotivated workforce too. Make sure that you show your staff a little bit of love and tell them that they are appreciated.

Show Your Staff A Little Bit Of Love: Make Them Comfortable

One of the most important things you can do to show your staff a little bit of love is to make them as comfortable as you can. Heading to an uninspiring and highly regulated workplace will not be something a person can readily look forward to. Make some changes to their environment to make it as welcoming as you can.

If you run an office, invest in some ergonomic furniture that can reduce aches and pains, and think about creating a nutrition station with fresh water and fruit to help keep your staff healthy and show them you care about their wellbeing. If you own any kind of construction or production business, you must prioritise safety and invest in the right personal protective equipment as well as implementing house rules that can help to keep your staff out of harm’s way.

In every industry there can be employees who have other needs like those who smoke – it’s essential that you get clued up on rules regarding smoking and vaping in the workplace to ensure you can abide by guidelines whilst still keeping staff happy and safe.

Show Your Staff A Little Bit Of Love: Offer Rewards

A great way to show your staff a little bit of love is to offer some great rewards for hard work. Any employees who show particular promise or surpass any goals set should receive some kind of bonus for their efforts. This will motivate both the receiver of the gift as well as those around them. Make sure that you choose which employees to reward wisely, and don’t just hand out bonuses to anyone who shows an interest. A reward could be anything from an increase in pay, extra holiday, or even a special treat such as a spa day or other experience trip. By making these bonuses as attractive as possible, you will no doubt inspire your employees to work a little harder to meet your goals, and it can also show your willingness to properly acknowledge their efforts.

Knowing how to show your staff a little bit of love has never been so simple. Above all be fair, kind, forward-thinking and don’t be shy when it comes to giving good feedback where it is due.